From March 31, Bulgarian citizens traveling to Schengen countries by air will not be subject to passport control, but only to airport security control. This stems from Bulgaria entering the Schengen area from the air at the end of March, outgoing interior minister Kalin Stoyanov told reporters on Tuesday. Bulgaria is fully ready, he noted.

Anton Zlatanov, head of the Border Police Directorate, said that the fact that mandatory border control has been removed for some countries does not mean that security measures at airports have been reduced. "We begin to rely more on risk analysis and operational activity, and all airports are divided into a Schengen and non-Schengen zone. The Schengen zone plays a role for flights within the border-free zone.

If security authorities deem it necessary, they have the right to search passengers. Persons aged 14 to 18 can travel alone, without a statement from the parent agreeing to their child leaving Bulgaria, if the travel is within Schengen.

Sofia Airport said the existing passport control desks will be removed on March 31, meaning that after check-in, passengers will undergo a baggage check and then proceed to the relevant gate.

There will also be no passport checks for passengers traveling to Switzerland or transiting through a non-Schengen country to a Schengen country. Passengers flying to a non-Schengen country via a Schengen country are subject to a passport control at the first place of departure, Sofia Airport specified. /BTA/